Hi guys! Just wanted to share a fun little project I’ve been working on with Yorkdale Shopping Centre this year! Last month, I filmed the very first web episode of Styled By Nelia – a web series showcasing some of Yorkdale’s finest retailers, and helping solve Yorkdale shoppers’ dilemmas. In the first episode, the lovely Kirsten needed help finding a holiday outfit, and so I offered her my advice. To see Kirsten’s shopping experience, please check out the video below, and if you shop at Yorkdale, be on the lookout for Max Kopanygin and I, we will be filming more of these in the next year! And remember, no matter the shopping dilemma, Yorkdale is (almost always) the answer! Thanks for watching!

Christmas is officially only one week away and I am getting more and more excited with each passing day. Excited for all the family get-togethers, yummy desserts, holiday movies on the couch, and of course…the presents! This year, gift shopping was a breeze…half of it done online, with the other half swiftly purchased at a couple of select stores in a couple of easy visits. I was even able to grab something special for myself to celebrate yet another year of blogging, working, and keeping it all together. Hooray!

Sadly, le bf wasn’t as lucky. I have to admit, getting a Christmas prezzie for me is kind of a tough task, since I tend to be quite picky and lack any patience, which means that anything I really want (and can afford), I end up getting for myself. So this year, to make his ordeal a little easier, I’m making an official “Dear Santa/Husband” wishlist and calling it a day. Some of these are a little less realistic than others, some are catlady things that I’m pretty sure are on his “banned forever” list, but between the adorable Charlotte Olympia travel kit, and the cutest gummy bear clutches ever, I’m hoping this completely impractical gift guide will get him through this impossible task…and maybe give you (or your man) some ideas too. Happy Shopping!

To see the 2014 selection of cute Ugly Christmas Sweaters please click here.

Thanks to Bridget Jones’s Diary and Marc Darcy’s unfortunate reindeerjumper, ugly Christmas sweater parties have been all the rage for the last few years. Every year I get invited to a slew of bashes where wearing a faux pas is de rigueur, so it’s pretty safe to say that owning at least one ugly Christmas sweater is a must. And the best part is…a lot of those “ugly” sweaters are actually pretty cute! From “Meow” Christmas, to “Murray” Christmas, there’s a sweater out there for everyone! Buy one this December, and keep wearing it with pride year after year. And to get you on the right track to owning a hideous (but not really) Christmas sweater, I gathered 20 cutest ugly sweaters I could find. You’re welcome, ya filthy animals!

This year, my gift-shopping has been a breeze. There were only a few stops on my itinerary, and I made sure to pick up at least two gifts at each destination. And just like that, I was done – three weeks before Christmas! Easy, breezy.

If, unlike me, you are still racking your brain for gift ideas, Danier’s got your covered! From the luxuriously soft leather gloves, to the stylish handbags, to cozy outerwear, you can find a gift for anyone on your list and for any budget. The tweed jacket with leather sleeves would fit into anyone’s wardrobe seamlessly; a pair of quilted gloves would cheer up that woman in your life that loses hers each season; and a leather tee would make your stylish friend jump for joy!

And while you’re at the store, don’t forget about the special men in your life! Toiletry pouch and duffle bag for the avid traveller, new leather iPad case for the tech geek, and a new leather belt for…well, anyone. And just like that…you’re done! One stop gift-shopping accomplished!

For more gift ideas from Danier, please check out the brand’s gift guide HERE.

Welcome to Day 2 of Style Days of Christmas Giveaways! Today’s awesome prize is Rowenta Beauty Versa Style(valued at $229.99) – a master tool that does the work of 5 salon tools (flat iron, roller set and 3 curling irons). This versatile styler lets you create beautiful curls, va-va-voom waves and flawless straight hair with ease. After my old straightening iron bit the dust last year, I’ve been stuck in a hair rut, but when Rowenta Beauty sent me this ingenious styler, it quite literally changed my hair, and I hope it can change yours too!

Christmas is only 23 days away, and all I can think about is the holidays! The tree is decorated, the presents are slowly getting wrapped, and I am now on chocolate advent calendar #2. But the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without the Style Days of Christmas Giveaways on Style Blog! To thank you all for your amazing support this year – our third annual giveaway extravaganza is back, and it’s bigger than ever! Over the next two and a half weeks we will be giving away over $3000 worth of prizes from our favourite brands and retailers to you. Don’t forget to stop by every day and enter for more chances to win.

Our first giveaway this season is courtesy of Yorkdale Shopping Centre – my favourite! Where else could you get EVERYTHING checked off your shopping list all in one place? With new amazing boutiques like Chanel, Cartier, Mulberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, John Varvatos, as well as lots more slated to open soon, Yorkdale is undeniably Toronto’s must-visit shopping destination, and I want you to be able to do some holiday shopping of your own at my fave stomping grounds. Want to win $200 gift card to Yorkdale? Enter below!

November is here, which means that the holiday season is just around the corner, which means family dinners, twinkly lights, and PRESENTS! I don’t know about you, but I have already bought a few Christmas gifts, and what made it really easy was attending The Bay’s holiday preview back in July.

At the preview, I got a chance to see all of the awesome gifts that The Bay stores are stocking this holiday season, from an impressive Library of Exotic Chocolate Bars for your favourite chocoholic (umm, that would be me!), to the seriously gorgeous handbags for your BFFs (the one from Zac Posen is a stunner!), to the softest cashmere sweaters that would delight anyone on your list, to the coolest toys any kid could wish for, there are hundreds of covet-worthy presents just waiting for you to scoop them up…all at one place!

As usual, HBC Collection pieces are high on my personal holiday wishlist. I already picked up a pair of HBC Converse sneakers, but I still want to grab a couple of striped Christmas stockings, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Santa will drop off the beautiful retro-inspired HBC Erdem Coat under my tree (pretty please, Santa!).

Apart from the best holiday presents you can give and receive, The Bay also has everything you need for entertaining this holiday season – appliances, cookware (best selection of Le Creuset in town!), showstopping dinnerware and flatware sets, and of course, holiday decorations galore! In short, there will only be a couple of gift-shopping stops on my itinerary this year, and The Bay is definitely one of my faves. Makes my life so easy!

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you might’ve noticed that last week I made a quickie visit to New York to attend the Ann Taylor Holiday 2013 preview. Along with a couple of Toronto editors, I got to sneak a peek at the upcoming collection, and I have to say…it almost made me wish for the holiday season to come sooner. Ok, maybe not quite…but the abundance of beautiful coats, sparkly jewellery, festive dresses, and best of all – covetable footwear, sure made me drool a little (A LOT!).

Lisa Axelson, creative director at Ann Taylor shared that outerwear is her must-have from the collection. And no wonder! From the graphic black and white coat with leather piping, to the grey leopard-print jacquard one, to the zebra-print number that Axelson herself was wearing slung over her shoulders, Canadians and fans of the brand will have plenty of choices once the colder temps hit.

My personal favourites from the collection included cap-toe ankle booties, velvet smoking flats, striped sweater with a side zip (also available in other colours), and tuxedo lace-stripe pants – beautiful, timeless pieces with a modern twist that I simply cannot wait to add to my wardrobe. And while I may not want to think about the holiday season quite yet, I am excited to note that under Axelson’s direction, the brand just seems to be getting better and better with each collection. Most of the Ann Taylor Holiday 2013 pieces will be arriving in stores sometime in October, so if you have an item or two that you simply must have, make sure to mark your calendars!

I, for one, can’t wait to get my paws on some of these gorgeous party frocks (especially the blue one above), printed separates (hello, space invaders skirt!), and fun Marni-esque jewelry. I am even thinking of picking up a couple of menswear pieces for myself too. Don’t tell me you aren’t loving this gorgeous green suede moto jacket! It’s PERFECT for fall!

From sequins, to leather, to velvet, to suede…looks like H&M will have my holiday attire covered this year! What do you think about this collection? Are you loving it as much as I am? Share in the comments.

WHAT I WORE

WHO IS NELIA?

Nelia Belkova is a Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle blogger by night and a financial analyst by day. She loves to travel, read gossip sites, eat sweets, and cuddle up to her husband and her cat on the couch. Read More…